Accounts Payable Specialist

Ares Management Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) match

HSA

Life Insurance

Disability

EAP

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Ares Management Corporation is seeking an Accounts Payable Specialist to join its global AP team in a fast-paced environment. The role focuses on operational AP execution and process improvements, ensuring accuracy and timely vendor support across multiple systems.

The candidate should have 5-7+ years in finance, a Bachelor’s degree, and experience with ERP platforms like SAP, Oracle Fusion, or PeopleSoft. The position offers strong growth in a global firm and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or accounting background preferred.
• 5-7+ years of experience in finance or accounting in a global organization.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle Fusion, PeopleSoft) and global/matrixed environments.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Execute payment activities in accordance with SLAs and internal controls, validating data and resolving discrepancies.
• Support vendor onboarding and maintenance, validating vendor data in Coupa and Oracle Fusion.
• Own AP issues end-to-end by coordinating with vendors, stakeholders, and offshore teams to resolve problems.
• Ensure SOX compliance by maker-checker controls, fraud prevention validations, and audit-ready documentation.
• Serve as primary escalation contact for complex AP issues.
• Collaborate with IT/Financial Applications to monitor and resolve system errors and integrations.
• Perform period-end close activities and AP reporting.
• Investigate reconciling items and drive timely resolutions with stakeholders.
• Identify and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency and controls.
• Meet SLA and accuracy targets across all AP activities.
• Support ad-hoc projects as directed by department manager.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Detail oriented

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

SAP

Oracle Fusion

PeopleSoft

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

The Accounts Payable Specialist is a key member of the global accounts payable team who will have two major areas of focus: operational execution and process improvement delivery. Key responsibilities under operational execution include payment processing, vendor management activities, and issue resolution. Process improvement delivery responsibilities include data analysis, process documentation, requirements gathering and change management, supporting strategic AP initiatives. The successful candidate would be detail-oriented with the drive to be both accurate and efficient. You thrive in a complex, fast-paced, and high-volume environment, where you can effectively manage the needs of multiple stakeholder groups. You can turn concepts into action and drive results, demonstrating a strong balance of analytical, technical, and communication skills. You should embody a culture of moving fast but thoughtfully. You have a willingness and ability to improve processes in a growing organization to streamline processes and improve efficiency to facilitate that growth. This individual should have a strong desire to deliver excellent customer service, with the ability to be proactive and anticipate the needs of the business and react accordingly.

ESSENTIAL TASKS

• Execute payment activities in accordance with SLAs and internal controls by performing required validation checks, ensuring accuracy prior to release, and investigating and resolving discrepancies as needed.
• Support vendor onboarding and maintenance activities, including reviewing and validating vendor data in Coupa and Oracle Fusion, responding to vendor inquiries, and supporting supplier enablement.
• Own AP issues end-to-end by collaborating with vendors, internal stakeholders, and offshore teams to drive timely resolution and escalation of critical issues as needed.
• Ensure compliance with SOX controls by following maker-checker principles, performing fraud prevention validations (including vendor banking updates), and maintaining audit-ready documentation.
• Serve as primary escalation contact on complex or time-sensitive AP issues.
• Collaborate with IT/Financial Applications team to monitor and resolve AP system errors and integration issues.
• Perform system and period-end close activities, including timely execution of AP close processes and reporting requirements.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items by analyzing discrepancies and ensuring timely resolution of differences with relevant stakeholders.
• Identify and drive process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and controls, while maintaining accurate and up-to-date process documentation.
• Meet SLA and accuracy targets by maintaining high levels of performance, responsiveness, and operational reliability across all assigned activities.
• Provide support and analysis to other ad-hoc projects & initiatives as directed by department manager.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree required (business or accounting background preferred)
• 5-7+ years of experience in finance or accounting function in a global organization
• Financial services industry experience preferred
• Experience working in a global, matrixed environment with offshore or shared service teams preferred
• Proven ability to perform in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities and executing urgent, time-sensitive requests (including short turnaround items) with accuracy and strong control discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to understand the implications for the wider enterprise.
• Experience using ERP packages (SAP, Oracle Fusion, Peoplesoft etc.)
• Experience being on a project team implementing new technology and/or enterprise level process change.
• Excellent organizational, planning and overall time management skills.
• Must be able to work on a variety of projects simultaneously and prioritize work.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• A self-starter with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Detail oriented and high degree of accuracy.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite with strong Excel, PowerPoint and Visio skills.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$115,000 - $130,000

Benefits

Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

About Ares Management

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2026, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $671 billion of assets under management(1) with more than 4,400 employees operating across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, "Ares Management") is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. (1) As of June 30, 2026. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.